Is The FCC Just Toying With XM And Sirius Now?

from the and-next...-we-want-you-to-clean-our-offices-with-just-a-feather! dept

The 18-month saga of XM and Sirius trying to merger just keeps getting more and more ridiculous. Yesterday, we pointed to all of the silly hoops the FCC was trying to make the companies go through, that often had absolutely nothing to do with antitrust issues, and today comes the news that the FCC has fined the companies nearly $20 million for technical violations as some sort of precursor to merger approval. What do these technical violations have to do with the antitrust questions the FCC is supposed to be deciding? Absolutely nothing. Instead, it appears that the FCC is simply using its position as the decider over whether or not the merger goes through to get whatever licks in that it can against the two satellite radio companies, knowing that they'll have to obey quietly. Its like hazing. Because XM and Sirius need the approval of the FCC, it can just do anything it wants to them, such as adding bizarre requirements or even asking them to hand over $20 million.
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Filed Under: antitrust, fcc, merger, satellite radio
Companies: sirius, xm


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  1. identicon
    F U Adelstein, 24 Jul 2008 @ 5:42pm

    extortion

    The Fcc has proven that they are just a bunch of thugs.
    FuCC them and the horse's ass in the white house too.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Bob, 24 Jul 2008 @ 5:47pm

    sirus merger

    Because of all the B.S. I will not be voting for a Rep.I will vote for a Dem,I hope other people follow,you have to hurt them with the votes.They will learn then when its to late that you just can't keep screwing your people and get away with it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    The Mighty Buzzard, 24 Jul 2008 @ 6:15pm

    Re: sirus merger

    Ahhh. So you're going with the Clueless Bastards over the Greedy Bastards this time. Things would be so much easier if you all would just get around to appointing me Emperor.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Jason, 24 Jul 2008 @ 6:26pm

    Re: sirus merger

    I take it that you oppose the merger, too? That's the only way your comments makes sense considering the Democrats are opposed to the merger and the Republicans are for it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Darksurf, 24 Jul 2008 @ 6:42pm

    Can you say balanced power?

    Hell, our government has somewhat checks and balances so why the hell can nobody get on the FCC's ass an say, "hey, you all risk losing your jobs for being dumbasses and crooks" The FCC is as bad as a monopoly or dictatorship.

    Oh, and Bob, That was one of the most stupid comments I think I've read in a long time. Rep. or Dem. has nothing to do with this issue. Please don't spread your stupidity among the others. Besides, you have read non of Obama's books nor do you know nothing of what he did in his recent visit to our troops. I've read his books and know what he has done and been doing. He's a crook and You obviously have no clue of whats going on, so don't show your ignorance in public if you don't want to be publicly humiliated.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Pope Ratzo, 24 Jul 2008 @ 6:44pm

    The main thing I want to know about this merger is whether the FCC will require XM and Sirius to give back one of the broadcast licenses they have so it can be auctioned off.

    If they are going to be one company, then it's absolutely a breach of anti-trust for them to own both of the licenses for satellite broadcast.

    I know the last eight years have been one big pig-out for the corporations of America, but now that we've got some non-GOP lawmakers in Washington, they might want to start putting things back the way they're supposed to be.

    And by "supposed to be", I mean "according to the law".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Mogilny, 24 Jul 2008 @ 7:14pm

    XM's satellites

    If they merge, what happens to XM's satellites? Maybe that's what the government is concerned about. They got some crazy conspiracy tech. sh*t on them. :)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    alternatives, 24 Jul 2008 @ 7:30pm

    Please don't spread your stupidity among the others.
    You could start by taking your own advice.

    He's a crook
    Ok - prove it. But take it somewhere else.

    and You obviously have no clue of whats going on, so don't show your ignorance in public if you don't want to be publicly humiliated.
    Again, you should look in the mirror. Your 'rant' has little to do with the topic at hand.

    Mike may very well be right - the 20 mil fine could very well be an expression of 'we are the government and you'll take what we give'. The rant of 'darksurf' does not bother to address that position

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    christopher, 24 Jul 2008 @ 11:14pm

    xm and fcc and politics

    is this a board about xm and sirius or politics? shut the f?@#k up and debate the topic. you want to talk politics go elsewhere!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    Pudro, 25 Jul 2008 @ 4:43am

    Fine money goes where?

    Since the FCC is supposed to be protecting customers, shouldn't this $20 million be put back into the companies in a way that benefits the customers? Say, a couple dollars off of everyone's monthly charge? (Or however it works out.)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    MrChuck, 25 Jul 2008 @ 5:37am

    Why make rules if they won't be followed

    What can't they understand.

    The agency distributed licenses to XM and Sirius in 1997 on the condition the two satellite companies never merge.

    Now because of crappy business practices on the part of both companies, we should give them a pass?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Chronno S. Trigger, 25 Jul 2008 @ 5:58am

    Re: Why make rules if they won't be followed

    "The agency distributed licenses to XM and Sirius in 1997 on the condition the two satellite companies never merge."

    That's odd, I've never heard that before. Where did you see that?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    anti-comunism, 25 Jul 2008 @ 6:07am

    THIS IS
    COMMUNISM.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Hal, 25 Jul 2008 @ 10:02am

    Re: sirus merger

    For your information, the 2 FCC members that have voted against the merger are both Democrats. The 2 in favor of the merger are Republicans. So, might want to check your information, before you pick the leader of the country.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 25 Jul 2008 @ 11:33am

    Re: xm and fcc and politics

    is this a board about xm and sirius or politics? shut the f?@#k up and debate the topic. you want to talk politics go elsewhere!!
    If the discussion here so upsets you I suggest that you are the one that should go elsewhere.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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